and he stared over his shoulder at where the arrow protruded from the wall. I tried not to freak out that the arrow had penetrated the stone with complete ease.
“I’ll be fine using the weapons.” I pointed the bow at Walker. “Take me back to get Connor, right now.”
Walker flicked his fingers and the bow was yanked from my grip and into his. “No.”
My heart thumped as my chance for rescuing Connor disappeared. “We have an agreement. You help me, I help you.” I tried negotiating in my most reasonable voice, though even to me it held a note of desperation.
“True.” Walker passed the bow to B’nar. “Enlighten her,” he said and walked out leaving me staring after him.
B’nar settled his attention on me. “You didn’t specify a timeline. Blue was right. It’s always about the finer points in a deal with the fae. So when I say you’re ready and we have made a plan for extraction, then we’ll go and get your wolf.” He spoke to me patiently as if talking to a child.
My gaze met Blue’s. She shrugged, her face soft.
My hands fisted, my skin heating. “Fine! But perhaps if you fae were more honest in your dealings you’d find trust easier to come by! Well, let’s get started then.”
“Not right now, Firecracker.”
A surge of anger and pain burst through me.
Connor’s wolf roared in my head.
I had Alex pinned against the wall in the blink of an eye. My anger matched the wolf’s. “Don’t you dare call me that—ever. Only one person calls me that and it sure as shit isn’t you, not if you want to keep your head on your shoulders.”
Connor’s wolf pushed to escape. His power was immense and I struggled to hold him in check as he tried to force his will on me. My wolf jumped forward. Snapping and snarling, she bolstered my strength and together we demanded he release his hold on my body. When he resisted, we forced him to retreat. He growled and snarled, but begrudgingly relented to my wolf. She continued to snap until he fully receded. The warmth of his respect for the she-wolf that was both strong enough to defy him and brave enough to protect her host, filtered into me. I sighed as his dominance lessened. It was hard to imagine how strong Connor was to control this beast all day, everyday.
Alex held his hands up in supplication. “Sorry, it’s just Connor always called you that when he talked about you. What else should I call you? Is Ember okay?” He dragged his fingers through his hair giving it a sexy, mussed vibe, his mouth twisting.
My anger didn’t dissipate at that little lost boy look, but it was clear if I wanted to get Connor back, I required Walker’s portal, and with no idea how to open one or get it to the correct place, I needed these people. I had to have back up, too. My knowledge about demons, or generals of Hell, was sorely lacking and I sure as shit didn’t know anything about being the key to the gates of Hell. The thought sent a full body shudder through me.
Well, I had to start somewhere. I blew out a deep breath and tried to curb my anxiety for Connor. Patience and planning... A tight smile curled my lips when Alex warily shook the hand I held out.
“Ember is fine, or Em.”
“Not Yellow?” Blue raised a brow as she smirked.
I forced another smile onto my lips. “Nope. Yellow disappeared the day he took you from our world and I ended up in that prison.” I glanced at B’nar and dipped my chin in his direction.
“I’m sorry for what happened to you, Ember, but you’re right, I had to strike my own deal. It was die, or become B’nar’s human project, as Walker calls me. Basically, the prince holds my life now. I belong to him.”
I cocked my head and at the look in her eyes, I knew her life wasn’t as ideal as it seemed on the surface. I nodded and held her gaze. It was a look we’d shared many times in the past; one that said we’d talk more later, when we were alone. I turned to B’nar. “Fine. When do we start?”
“Right now,” he said, and the heat of fae magic warmed me. When I glanced down at myself, I was covered in similar clothes to his, as were the others.
“Wow. You look good, girl.” Blue gestured to the figure